Bobcat Gas Storage (Bobcat) announced today the start of an open season for unratcheted, firm storage service in both Caverns 1 and 2 at its natural gas storage facility currently under construction in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. Cavern 1 capacity will be available in October 2008 with Cavern 2 in-service expected in August 2009.
On September 26, 2007, Bobcat filed at Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to increase the working gas capacity of both Cavern 1 and Cavern 2 to 7.8 Bcf each. This increase in capacity is achieved by reclassifying gas previously designated as base gas to working gas. This increase in working gas will not lengthen the time for construction on Bobcat 1 or Bobcat 2. As a result of this increase in working gas, Bobcat is offering additional capacity in Cavern 1 available for contracting.
Bobcat is making significant progress on the construction of its facility. Both Cavern 1 and Cavern 2 have been leaching at Bobcat's FERC approved combined leaching rate of 5000 gpm. Bobcat has received approval from FERC to increase its leaching rate to 6000 gpm and anticipates leaching at a higher rate in the near term. The site work for the compressor station is underway; and all other aspects of construction are moving forward on or ahead of schedule.
The Bobcat Project will offer customers premiere interconnections with five interstate pipelines including Texas Eastern Transmission, L.P., Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Company, Florida Gas Transmission, Gulf South Pipeline and ANR Pipeline as part of its initial project. All interconnection agreements are completed.
Bobcat is conducting an open season for 1.6 Bcf of firm storage capacity in Cavern 1 and 7.8 Bcf of firm storage capacity in Cavern 2. Customers can choose a 4 turn and/or 7 turn service for this capacity. All details of the open season are included in the open season package. The open season will extend from October 9, 2007 to November 7, 2007. Any person interested in contracting for Bobcat storage service must submit a complete bid before the November 7, 2007 deadline.
Bobcat will offer customers service under its FERC-approved tariff and market-based rates. Prospective customers wanting to request an open season package, seeking additional project information or wanting to discuss storage opportunities at Bobcat are asked to contact Jamie Craddock by phone: 713-800-3510 or by e-mail: jcraddock@bobcatstorage.com. Additional information about the project, construction updates and the open season is available at www.bobcatstorage.com.
Bobcat is being developed by Port Barre Investments, LLC, which is owned by members of management, Haddington Energy Partners III LP, a private equity fund managed by Haddington Ventures, LLC and GE Energy Financial Services, the energy investing unit of GE (GE:NYSE).
